Author Articles for Anne Oyoo

Difficult group members How do you deal with difficult group members? Individuals who create turmoil in the group by engaging in chronically disruptive behavior, or whose communication behavior is chronically inappropriate offer a challenge. Since groups are systems composed of... View Article

Registering and Formalizing your Chama Do you want to register and formalize your group? We delve into how you can legally go through the registration process for your group. Chamas are widespread because they collectively allow members of different income... View Article

Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILCs) are a type of community-based Accumulating Savings and Credit Association (ASCA). The basic principle of Savings and Internal Lending Communities is that a group of self-selected people come together to form a SILC and... View Article

Doing business may not be for everyone. Despite the potential rewards, setting up and running a business very time consuming. To succeed in any business, a Chama needs personal involvement and monitoring, especially in its formative stages. This commitment and... View Article

Designate a Facilitator The facilitator is usually the “driver” of the meeting. She helps the group understand and achieve their objective(s), assists the group in following the agenda and staying on schedule. The facilitator should ensure that notes are taken.... View Article

What makes a Chama stick together? In Chama’s’, several factors contribute to the members staying together. Cohesion can be considered as the glue that binds a group. Individualistically each one of us is self-directed, seeking different objectives, and yet we... View Article

Effective Chama meetings allow for open conversation that draws upon each members’ knowledge, skills, and perspectives to solve problems and to support one another in achieving the team’s collective goals. Effective meetings are not only integral to achieve team goals... View Article

Here’s How a Chama Can Invest while Waiting for Member Consensus Each member in a Chama would like to see a change as they go out to invest their money. Some groups hold back their money out of fear they... View Article

Whether you’ve been tasked with taking notes for a committee or you’ve been appointed Secretary to your new Chama, preparing meeting minutes doesn’t have to be an arduous task. Why meeting minutes are important Minutes are a tangible record of... View Article

“Leadership is the ability of a superior to induce subordinates to work with confidence and I zeal” — Koontz and ‘Donnell. Leadership may be defined as a position of power held by an individual in a group, which provides him... View Article